Vatican City
The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the
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Austria
Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital
is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and
incredible history & food. Go Now!

Andorra has survived as an independent country for centuries due to connections
with both France and Spain; these two foreign powers are also the greatest cultural
influences on the people of Andorra. However, trying to identify who is or is not
Andorran in the country is a difficult task given the fact that the Andorrans and
Catalans are nearly identical in an ethnic and linguistic sense.

The Catalan people primarily live in northeast Spain and Barcelona, however the
majority of people in Andorra are also Catalan. Despite this, the people of Andorra
identify in many ways and may see themselves as Andorran, Catalan, or even Spanish.
No matter how these people identity, they all share a great number of cultural similarities.
However, the Andorrans also have strong ties to France and today's Andorra is
quite distinct from Catalonia, primarily due to this French influence and the landscape.

Due to Andorra's mountainous landscape, the lifestyle in the country is very
different from that of Catalonia, Spain, or France, although there are a large number
of similarities with the neighboring Pyrenees Mountains. The people primarily live
in the mountain valleys where the soils are more fertile and water is easily accessible.
Many parts of these mountains are nearly inaccessible, encouraging the growth of
communities along the valleys. The mountains also prevent settlements from expanding
too much so there are no true cities in Andorra, giving the country a very rural
and natural feel.

While the mountains dictate the lifestyle, they only minimally affect the culture
of the people. This culture is more heavily rooted in the people and their connections.
Being primarily Catalan, Spanish, and French, there are aspects of all these cultures
found in Andorra. Since most people are ethnically Catalan, this culture is more
noticeable in the culture, including the language, foods, and more. However, the
French and greater Spain have also encouraged the culture in various directions
and today the people of Andorra reflect all of these influences.